logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2023
25m 18s

How Horses Conquered America (Twice)

History Hit
About this episode

Horses have been a bulwark of American culture and society for centuries. Think of cowboys in the Mid-West or Native Americans riding bareback on the Great Plains. But new, ground-breaking archeological evidence has emerged to suggest horses were present in the Americas more than 10,000 years ago, shattering our previous assumptions that they were first brought to North America by the Spanish.


In today’s episode of American History Hit, Don speaks to Dr William Taylor about these new findings, exploring how the mighty horse conquered America, went extinct, and then conquered it once more.


Produced by Benjie Guy and Freddy Chick. Mixed by Joseph Knight. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long


For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here. 


If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today! To download, go to Android or Apple store 


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
Crime of the Century: Who Kidnapped Charles Lindbergh Jr?
<p>The Lindbergh Kidnapping is one of the most influential crimes in American history; it plunged a national hero into an investigation which changed the way America thought about law, justice, and “celebrity” forever.</p><br><p>In this episode, we’ll look at what happened inside ... Show More
51m 38s
Nov 20
What was the Satanic Panic?
<p>Why were more than 12 thousand cases of satanic abuse brought in the 1980s? Was the Prince of Darkness walking among us then? Or did something else cause the panic?</p><br><p>Joseph Laycock joins Don for this episode to discuss the so-called Satanic Panic, from daycares to new ... Show More
36m 30s
Nov 17
What if the Texas Republic survived?
<p>In 1845, the Republic of Texas stood at a crossroads. In our history, they chose to join the USA… but what if they chose another path? Was this even possible? What impact would this have had on life within Texas? And how would it have impacted its neighbours?&nbsp;</p><br><p>T ... Show More
41m 32s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2023
Origins of Horse Riding
<p>Human and Horse relationships have long be intertwined; from the ancient Eurasian plain, through to modern cowboys. But how did these huge, independent creatures become domesticated - and what was the original intention behind such an act? Originally tamed for their meat and m ... Show More
44m 9s
May 2024
448. Custer vs. Crazy Horse: Horse-Lords of the Plains (Part 3)
Of all the great characters entangled in the story of George A. Custer and the American Indian Wars, few are as captivating as Crazy Horse. A mighty warrior of the Lakota Sioux, and a tremendous military tactician, he was a charismatic but enigmatic figure. The Sioux, of which th ... Show More
49m 28s
Jul 2024
164. How the West was Won: The Truth Behind the Westerns
A whole genre of movies is based on a relatively short period of nineteenth-century American history. But what is the real story behind battles between Native Americans and white settlers during westward expansion? In the aftermath of the Mexican-American War, settlers flooded to ... Show More
49m 56s
Jan 2023
How Indigenous Americans Discovered Europe
<p>We have long been taught that modern global history began when the 'Old World' encountered the 'New', when Christopher Columbus 'discovered' America in 1492. But, in a groundbreaking new book, Dr. Caroline Dodds Pennock conclusively shows that for tens of thousands of Aztecs, ... Show More
44m 10s
Jun 2022
A Short History of Nomads
<p>The roots of the word ‘Nomad’ dates back to an extremely early Indo-European word, ‘nomos’. After towns and cities are built and more people settle, ‘Nomad’ comes to describe people who live without walls and beyond boundaries. Now, the word is used by settled people - for som ... Show More
20m 20s
Aug 2024
Lawrence of Arabia
<p>The famed British officer who fought alongside Arab guerrilla forces in WW1. Best known for his legendary exploits as an intelligence officer in the Middle East, Thomas Edward Lawrence was also an archaeologist, scholar and photographer. His life was one of adventure and espio ... Show More
59m 29s
Sep 2022
Rise of the Persians
<p>The Achaemenid Empire, or better known as the First Persian Empire, was one of the largest empires in History - led by Cyrus the Great it covered 2.1 million square miles. But where did it come from? And what do we know about their society? It was in their DNA to travel and ex ... Show More
44m 46s
Dec 2022
A Short History of The World
<p>How can you condense the history of the world into a book? Well-celebrated historian Simon Sebag Montefiore does just that in his new epic. He takes Dan on an exhilarating journey through the families that have shaped our world: the Caesars, Medicis and Incas, Ottomans and Mug ... Show More
28m 57s
Dec 2022
Dan Snow's History Hit Quiz!
<p>Fingers on buzzers for a very special History Hit end-of-year treat.</p><br><p>Tricky expert questions, history in the headlines, historical fact or fiction? It can only be the History Hit Big Quiz of 2022 - a seasonal test where you can pit your wits against our in-house hist ... Show More
42m 59s
Mar 2023
Roman Beast Hunts
<p><em>This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence and cruelty against animals.</em></p><br><p>The Romans were - and still are - infamous for the brutal gladiatorial contests they held in their ancient amphitheatres. But often what made their games so spectacular were ... Show More
33m 55s